This thesis reports results of a research study into the information behaviour of Kuwaiti
legal professionals. The main aims of the research were to investigate the information
behaviour and the information needs of Kuwaiti legal professionals, and examine
whether the existing legal information sources and services meet their needs.
The theoretical framework for this research was derived from the investigation of
information behaviour in general, and studies of legal professionals in particular. Wilson's
(1996) model of information behaviour was also used to develop the conceptual
framework of this research. This model takes into account four types of information
seeking behaviour: active search, passive search, passive attention and ongoing search.
This model helped in formulating research questions and hypotheses and the design of
data collections methods. It was used also as a tool for organising the interpretation and
discussion of the research findings.
The research methods were designed from a user-centred perspective, including using
data collection methods that are supportive of user-centred research. Triangulation was
used in data collection by the use of questionnaires, interviews and critical incidents
technique. The participants of the research included legal academics, legal practitioners
such as state lawyers, prosecutors and private lawyers, law librarians, legal publishers and
legal database producers in Kuwait.
The results showed that a personal collection is the source used most by Kuwaiti legal
professionals. The majority did not use electronic sources such as databases and the
Internet. A large percentage also did not use law libraries. The majority of academics
sought information themselves, whereas the majority of practitioners relied on the
assistance of others. The majority of respondents had no training on the use of
information sources. The majority also relied on internal communication as a channel for
information exchange more than external communication.
The majority of respondents scanned between one or two journals, although journals
should be among the major information sources for legal professionals. On the other
hand, newspapers ranked first for serendipity for both academics and practitioners. New
books were ranked as a first source by practitioners for updating information, whereas
journals were ranked first for academics.
These results showed the information seeking problems of the legal professionals. This
led to the development of the interface requirement for the design of a prototype
Kuwaiti Legal Information System (KLIS) interface. The aim of the system was to
provide relevant and up-to-date information, and links to other information sources and
services in order to improve communication channels at both national and international
level. The system also sought to be cost-effective. Finally, a heuristic usability evaluation
was undertaken by consulting a number of experts on the system's usability and contents.
Conclusions are drawn and recommendations for further research and to stakeholders are
made.

Description:

A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.